[Massachusetts-NFB] Checking In on Parental Rights Bills

[Hai Nguyen Ly]

Hi Justin:
On behalf of the Massachusetts Association of Parents of blind Children, (MAPBC), thank you for stepping up and providing us with some background and context on the current status of this effort. Based on the discussion from our MAPBC meeting last night, I am hopeful that we will be able to take some actions to move this bill forward in the state. In order for this effort to e successful, we will require resilient leadership, ideally with some historical knowledge of the process.  I realize that I’m putting you in the proverbial hot seat, however based on your successful work in Hawaii on a similar effort, I’m confident that we will have a greater chance of success with your help. Regarding next actions, I believe there needs to be a conversation with @Shara and @Mika to determine if there are any affiliate procedures we need to follow for legislative actions.
If there are Federationists who would be willing to volunteer for a committee to help move this parents rights bill forward in Massachusetts, please reach out to me directly in the next two weeks as to avoid cluttering up the list. Once I’ve gathered a list of interested individuals, I’ll set up a brainstorming session to discuss potential ways we can approach this effort and how we might best work together as a committee. Thank you again @Justin for your tireless advocacy in this space and I look forward to working with you to cement the rights of blind parents in Massachusetts. 

Cordially:
Hai Nguyen Ly, Vice President of MAPBC

> On May 11, 2023, at 5:52 PM, Justin Salisbury via Massachusetts-NFB <massachusetts-nfb at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> 
>> Hello everyone,
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> I’m writing to keep everyone in the loop on the status of the parental rights bills that align with the goals of the NFB of Massachusetts, especially since our parents’ division is meeting tonight. Our national office reviewed these bills, which are identical companion bills (one House, one Senate), and said that these had everything we wanted.
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> These bills are attached to this email for everyone’s reference.
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>>  
>> 
>> I am not aware of any action taken by anyone in this affiliate to do anything to improve the chances of passing these bills. This should not imply that nobody is doing anything, but I just don’t know about anything that has been done. I offer this statement to be transparent with the group and let people know as much as I know. It’s not a critique. I just don’t want people to be holding back because they think I’m doing something about this.
>> 
>>  
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>> These bills were introduced and referred to committee in February of this year, and that’s all that is reported on the MA legislature website.
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>>  
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>> I’ll be graduating with my master’s degree on Sunday, May 21, and I’ll be promptly moving back home to Athol. I’ll be happy to work on these bills with anyone who is interested.
>> 
>>  
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>> Happy Thursday,
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Justin Salisbury
>> 
>> (he/him)
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Athol, Massachusetts
>> 
>> Phone: 808.797.8606
>> 
>> Email: President at Alumni.ECU.edu <mailto:President at Alumni.ECU.edu><2023 S1037.pdf><2023 H1601.pdf>_______________________________________________
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